Selection Criteria

The School of Medicine’s admission policy promotes the UMMS mission by offering a quality, accessible medical education to those qualified applicants who will best serve health care needs through medical practice, public service, education and research.

A committee comprising of representative faculty members and medical students determines selection for admission. A number of factors are carefully considered in the committee’s review of each applicant’s qualifications and in the selection of a matriculating class that will represent a broad and diverse spectrum of individuals, backgrounds and interests. These factors include, but are not restricted to, the following:

Attributes that contribute to the diversity of the class, including, but not limited to, socio-economic background, educational background, work experience, nationality, languages spoken, ethnicity, race, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Also considered in diversity are students from disadvantaged backgrounds and resiliency in terms of positive capacity to cope with stress and adversity

Extracurricular accomplishments

Oral communication and interpersonal skills as documented in letters of support and in the interview

Written communication skills as determined by academic performance, standardized testing and materials submitted in the application package

Achievement in scientific research and/or medically related service

Evidence of motivation and preparedness for medicine

Attributes and values deemed necessary for physicians, including honesty, altruism, compassion, flexibility, maturity, intellectual curiosity, self-awareness, ability for self-directed learning and ability to work as a member of a team

In consideration of these factors described above, the UMass Medical School encourages students to pursue a pre-medical education of considerable breadth including such coursework as English literature and composition, foreign languages, history, economics, ethics and the fine arts. All students must complete the coursework identified on the Academic Requirements webpage and demonstrate a strong performance in the biological and physical sciences as a sound foundation for pursuing further study in the medical sciences.

No single program can be recommended as the best or preferred plan of study. Candidates are, therefore, encouraged to select educational programs that best reflect individual interests and aptitudes. Whenever possible, advanced study in a field of interest is encouraged, with particular emphasis on activities involving independent study.

Students who are granted advanced placement credits for coursework taken in secondary school are advised to take additional college level programs in these subject areas.